Chapter 18
Marko walked along the winding paths of the Academy until the early hours of dawn. He wasn't really sure what he felt. Was he jealous? Was he angry? Or oddly was he amused? He didn't know but he knew that he couldn't bear to lose Anakah. She had always been his rock, ever since they first met when he was five and a half years old and came to Coruscant for the first time with his father.
He had wandered way from the small temporary quarters Zekk and he was staying in, and somehow found his way into the lower levels of the Temple. His father was frantic in trying to locate him, but he always seemed to elude the Jedi Knight. However, Marko found others in the lower level who weren't hiding but rather playing in one of the storage rooms. The Durron twins were playing hide and seek as they waited for their mother, while she gave a sparing lesson to her Apprentice. Marko watched the two black curly headed five-year-olds for a moment then asked if he could play too.
The memory of seeing them for the first time still brought a smile to his face. Anakah came to him first closely followed by her brother. They were of equal height and actually looked a little alike, until he saw their eyes. He would never forget Anakah's eyes as she looked at him. They were the bluest eyes he had ever seen.
The three of them just stared at each other for a moment then Zeth pointed at him and said, "Hey! I've seen you before. Our mom has a holo of you."
Marko had nodded and remembered to thrust out his hand in grownup imitation of Zekk, "I'm Marko Quee. And my mom has holos of you too, I think."
Anakah didn't hesitate to take his hand and said as she flashed him a smile, "I'm Ana Durron and this is my dimwitted twin brother, Zeth."
Marko shook his head as he chuckled at the memory. That had been the beginning. Later that year they all found themselves on Ossus at the Academy with Bail Solo D'jo and Terrik Horn. Bail and the twins had known Terrik from his parents visiting their parents and Marko had known him practically from birth because his parents had lived on Zonama Sekot. Terrik at first became the glue that kept them all together. But soon Marko found himself with Anakah more and more while the three other boys would go off by themselves to play pilot games. Marko didn't like flying, the living ships that he was used to had frightened him as a young boy, and Anakah hated the idea of being a pilot. She liked to play spy games and dress-up, which he hated to admit he preferred to pretending to fly X-wings. It wasn't long before he had fancied himself in love with her. He remembered thinking that he'd grow up and marry her someday.
Then his world came crashing down around him as his parent's marriage fell apart. It wasn't long that Marko decided that he'd never love anyone. It hurt too much when it all came too an end, which it always did. It had happened when his mom loved Jacen Solo and it happened when his dad loved Jaina Solo, and now it was happening with his mom and dad. So, he knew it would happen with him if he let himself love.
However, Anakah became his support, she was the only one he could talk too and she became his best friend. They never seemed bothered by the fact that his father and her mother had at one time lived together like they were married. In fact, Marko always thought that was one reason they could talk about the things that were going on with his parents. They spent most of their free time together and by the time they were teenagers they became inseparable.
Marko sighed as he entered the hotel where he and Anakah had been placed. He slipped into the room and looked at her sleeping form on the bed he shared with her. He wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and show her that they too had something special even if it wasn't love, but one look at his angel as she lay curled into a ball stopped him. He let out another long sigh and slid down the door to sit on the floor. As he watched his best friend sleep he realized how much this hurt her. He knew she cried herself to sleep. He knew she did that often even if she tried to hide it. He knew she wasn't happy but there was a time when they were. They found joy and happiness together and she became his angel.
He thought back to the time when they were truly happy, carefree and falling into the depths. He had just turned fifteen and she was fourteen. They were hiking in the forest not far from the Academy when they decided to stop and take a break. He had been fantasizing about her for well over a year, she filled his adolescent dreams and he discovered after that afternoon that he had filled hers. He never meant for the kiss to go that far. He had kissed her before but this time it had been different, explosive. He knew now that it was because Anakah thought she loved him. He often wondered if that was why she was so willing and what would have happened if her love hadn't scared him so much.
However, he didn't let his fear stifle what they discovered together. After that first time and for over a year later, they would find secret places and hide for an hour or so and share in the most intimate way they could. Then Anakah said the words. She told him that she loved him and it was enough to scare him to the core, because he thought he was falling for her too. He had to let go or he'd have lost his heart and would have gotten hurt along the way. So he purposely began to pursue other girls and eventually her sister, not because he wanted to fall in love with any of them but because of his fear and distrust of love. He had to admit that he wanted Meri Durron but she never gave in to Marko's attempts at seducing her. She had her eyes and heart set on Terrik.
However, his seemingly disregard for Anakah had hurt her and Marko's insistence that he would never fall in love eventually stifled any romantic love she felt for him and she decided she didn't really want to fall in love with him either. Anakah then began seeing others and eventually they laughed about the thought of them falling in love. Neither one of them wanted to give up the freedom of being with others, but they still remained friends and intimate.
Being with others, Marko decided was their way of never letting their hearts get too involved. However, incredibly their friendship continued to grow. They could tell each other anything, even involving their other partners. Marko never was jealous of Anakah's conquests, as their friends and those who fell under her spell called them, and she never was jealous of Marko's.
Amazingly, though, Marko still would distantly think that if he ever did get married his wife would be Anakah. Maybe it was because she understood him so well. Maybe it was because she would never want him to be something he wasn't. He had always thought he and Anakah were of the same mind; neither of them would ever be stupid enough to fall in love. They had promised they would never fall in love.
Yet she has and it isn't with me.
Yes, he decided he was jealous as he pulled his knees up and hugged them and watched his angel sleep. He didn't want Anakah to fall in love with someone. He didn't want anyone to take his best friend away. He needed her too much. He relied on her too much. How could he go on without her to lean on? He had been with many women but none ever did to him what Anakah did. None of them haunted his dreams like she did.
He was willing to share Anakah if it came to that, knowing that she always would come back to him. However, if she was in love with her partner and he in love with her, she wouldn't want to come back to him and that he could not bear. He would pretend he didn't know about Valin and he would gently persuade Anakah to marry him sooner, possibly before the Conclave broke up.
He sniffed back the emotion he felt and stood up, quickly undressed and slipped in to bed beside her. She stirred as he snuggled up next to her back and wrapped his arm around her. She turned to look at him and he could see the sadness in her beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes had always enchanted him since that day he first saw her twenty years earlier. He wanted to see happiness there and he wanted to be the one to bring it.
Without saying a word, he took her into his arms and kissed her with all the passion he felt for his beautiful angel and she returned it, but he could feel her heart break as she gave herself to him and his ached knowing she loved another.
X
Nirauan System, Unknown Region
"Close it up, Seven. It's going to get hot out here," Cherith was frustrated with some of the pilots that were flying in her flight and Three Flight. A lieutenant from Striker Squadron was flying in Zeth's position as Rogue Nine and she could see the difference. He was a good pilot but he wasn't Zeth.
She missed Zeth terribly and shook the thought of him out of her mind. He had contacted her a few times since going back to Ossus. Each time he told her that he missed her and that he couldn't wait to be back to be with her.
She knew if Zeth had been here he would have been able to convince Gabe that the Rogues weren't ready to fly. It had only been a few weeks since the attack and most of these pilots were still too green. But Gabe thought they were ready and since he's opinion out weighed hers, they were launched.
The young pilot, whose scores were actually pretty impressive, responded, "Sorry, Five. I comply."
Charith watched her scanners and saw the pilot close the distance between him and Rogue Eight. Then she let out a sigh. She wasn't feeling well and hadn't been feeling right for about three days now. She was hoping to forgo this skirmish and go see a medic if this feeling persisted. However, her mother and commander thought the Rogues were capable of entering the fight which was playing out on the outer edges of Nirauan's orbit with Dro'godda.
The fleet had broken up and spread out slightly to cover the area where Admiral Gavin Darklighter and her father thought the pirate's base of operations were—a several parsec spear of area in this area of the Unknown Regions. Her uncle, who was in command of Cleven's Chiss taskforce, had discovered the increased pirate activity around the old Chiss / Imperial stronghold of the Nirauan System. The planet had been abandoned ten years ago and since had become another haven for the lawless. At first it was thought Dro'godda had its base there but after closer inspection, Cem Fel didn't think so. However, the Dro'godda wasn't happy with the Chiss snooping either. Cem's ships were attacked and he put out the call for help. Since Jag was closest with the Han Solo and its escort, they deployed to back up the Chiss.
As the Rogues got closer to the fighting, she thought about her brother. He had been always in her thoughts, but while Zeth was around she was distracted. Now with him gone for nearly a month, she found herself thinking more and more of her older brother. Cleven had always been her best friend. They could share things that no one else could have ever understood. She had wanted to tell him about Zeth, about falling in love with the arrogant human Jedi she had set out to beat in the perceived game of "who's better". She missed his stoic stare of disapproval when she would do something that wasn't very Chiss-like, but then he would give her that half smile that made him look so much like their father. But mostly she missed his dry sense of humor.
She had been glad Zeth was with her while the disciplinary hearing was going on, but after his departure for Ossus, she really wished Cleven had been there for her as well.
Oh, Clev, I hope you are safe and we soon find you. This was her last thought before giving herself completely to the dogfight that engulfed her squadron.
X
Cherith was exhausted as she sat the X-wing down in the hanger of Han Solo. She had never felt so drained in her entire life after a fight and this one really hadn't been that terribly bad. The Rogues actually came out of it unscathed. She took a deep breath as she shut down the systems and after realizing she didn't even have energy to do that, ordered her astromech to do it for her. Then she popped the canopy and wearily climbed to the deck.
As her feet hit the metal plating she saw Gabe come toward her. She stood at attention and tiredly saluted, "Sir?"
He quickly saluted back and then said with a crocked grin, "Commander, you look terrible."
She smiled weakly and responded, "I feel terrible. I wasn't feeling well before the mission."
"What? Why didn't you see a medic?" Gabe turned and she fell into step beside him.
She shrugged, "I felt the mission was more important. It's probably a virus of some sort that needs to run its course." She suddenly felt lightheaded and stopped walking. "Whoa…" She moaned as she put her hand to her forehead.
Gabe quickly turned and reached over to catch the tall commander before she could lose her footing. "Cherith, I'm taking you to that medic now. And if you ever fly like this again, I'll see that you are locked into your quarters afterward. Understand?"
She nodded and allowed him to lead her away. He flagged down a repulser sled and helped her on to it. Sitting beside her he ordered the driver to take them to medical.
As they approached the infirmary, Gabe looked at her and cautioned, "Cherith, are you okay? Would you like me to call your parents?"
Cherith swallowed back sudden nausea and shook her head emphatically, "No. I'll be okay. Oh—are we there soon?"
Gabe gave her one more concerned glanced and said, "Okay. And yes—here we are." The sled stopped and Gabe helped her off.
An hour later she was sitting on an examination table feeling a great deal better but was becoming greatly concerned at what could be wrong with her. She had been greatly puzzled by the look the Nautolan doctor gave her when she answered some of his questions and described her symptoms. Then as she waited for the results of her tests, she thought about her symptoms and a cold icy anxiety began to take hold of her.
She startled when the door slid open the Nautolan entered. She looked up from her fidgeting hands and swallowed when she saw the alien's black eyes narrow. He didn't speak immediately and then he cleared his thoat and his head tentacles twitched as if he was uncomfortable. Finally, she quietly asked, "The pregnancy test was postive, wasn't it?"
He slowly sat down on the stool that was near the table and let out a breath. "Yes, Commander, it is. I do not understand why you are not, were not, on a contraceptive as is standard policy."
She looked away and then sat up; swinging her legs off the side of the bed she said quietly, "I'm allergic to them."
"All of them?" he asked disbelievingly.
She hopped off the table and nodded as she met his wide black gaze. "Yes. It has something to do with my mixed genetics or my metabolism. At least that is what I've been told by the Chiss doctor who treated my last reaction to one."
She moved away from him and hugged herself. She would not cry before the odd alien, whose species she knew very little about except that they were amphibious like Quarren and Mon Calamari; she would give into that weakness when she was alone.
Finally, the medic stood and said gently, "You do know the options?"
She spun on him and spat, "I will—I can't do that to—" Not able to say the rest she took a deep breath and said more evenly, "Thank you, Dr. Kistun." She saluted the man who held the rank of Lt. Colonel and turned to leave when a terrible thought hit her like a ton of durocrete. She then turned and whispered, desperate, "Please, Colonel, don't report this to the General or the Admiral. I will—I will inform them myself."
He stared at her with those unreadable black eyes. "Commander, I'm not sure that I can do that. This is a violation of military code—"
"Yes, I realize that," she stepped closer to him. "But they are my parents, please try to understand. I will tell them. I will disgrace myself before them. I will not have you do it for me." She leveled him with an icy glare and added, "However, I will not tell them before I inform the father. I feel it is only right that he knows first."
The veteran military medic stiffed under her stare and nodded once. "I will comply, Commander."
With that Cherith Nuruodo-Fel ran from the infirmary all the way to her quarters. She entered just as the first tears came upon her and she leaned against the cold metal door. Throwing her head back she sobbed, "How in the galaxy am I going to tell my parents I'm pregnant with Zeth Durron's chid?"
X
Ossus
Luke Skywalker walked along the same path that he took nearly thirty years before when he announced that he would become the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. He remembered as he picked his way through the garden, the same garden that was the stage for his great-niece's wedding, the speech that he had given at that time. Only a little over a hundred Jedi and staff heard that speech, but today two thousand people crowded the assembly hall. He knew the Senate had wanted Luke to make this announcement at the Coruscant Temple where he would have had more room, but Luke wanted to be away from there. This had become his home and he knew he'd die here someday. This was the Jedi Academy and even if it wasn't Yavin IV, this still felt more like the home of the Jedi than the newer Temple on the capitol ever could.
Luke smiled at that thought. The Coruscant Temple was built over the ruins of the one destroyed by his father and Palpatine. The site that had been home to the Jedi for millennia, but yet, it never felt like it was right for his Jedi. He felt the Jedi were too close to the government there and he knew if he'd made the announcement there it would have been made into a political issue.
Not that it already isn't. Luke wasn't blind to what his decision would do to the way people, and particularly certain government officials saw the Jedi. However, the more Luke considered it, the more he felt he was doing the right thing. The Force was telling him to let go and who to give it all to.
He looked up and saw that he had come to the entrance to the hall. He could feel the excitement and apprehension in the air. And he could feel the sadness. Most of the retirees of his first Jedi class come back, even those who didn't live on Ossus. Only a hand full of Jedi, who were on missions too important to jeopardize, were not present.
He entered and was amazed at how silent the massive chamber became at his presence. He began to make his way to the front when everyone stood on their feet and began to applaud. It was a deafening sound that seemed to shake the very structure. Luke climbed the stairs to the dais were a podium was set up and looked out over the still applauding mass.
He was totally humbled by the outpouring of love, pride and euphoria. And he returned it ten fold to the beings who had been his students over the sixty years that he was a Jedi. Luke met the smiling face of his wife and watched as she clapped her hands as enthusiastically as everyone else. He knew Mara was having difficulty accepting her own mortality, that she feared that she would never see her grandson or any other grandchildren grow up. She hadn't wanted Luke to step down yet, that secretly she had wanted him to pass the Grand Mastership to Ben eventually. However, Luke didn't think Ben was ready for the responsibility now. He had only been a Master for thee years. Although, Mara didn't like the idea of a non-Skywalker taking the Order, she was grateful that he was retiring to be with her, although she would deny it. But to Luke, she was the most important thing to him right now. His order wasn't his any longer; it belonged to the beings staring back at him.
Finally, he raised his hands and the room instantly fell silent, Luke took a deep breath and began:
"Nearly thirty years ago I came to this place to proclaim a new era for the Jedi. One that allowed us to govern ourselves without government interference and one that gave us a guardian among ourselves to oversee our responsibility to the galaxy. I became that first guardian—the first among the New Jedi, directly taught by two Masters of the Old.
"However, I feel that I am no longer capable of providing that guidance. I am no longer that guardian. It is time that I pass on that role to someone else.
"I am both humbled and proud of each and every one of you and, if my Masters could be here today, they too would be pleased at how their dream of creating a New Order of Jedi has become a reality."
Luke let that sink in for a second and met Leia's eyes. She gave him a small smile and sent to him her support through their bond. He smiled back at her and relayed his gratitude to her and then went on:
"However, it wasn't me who is totally responsible for the success of Masters Kenobi and Yoda's dream. The first Jedi class at the Praxeum on Yavin IV contained twelve diverse and talented individuals and eventually grew to sixteen. Not all of those sixteen individuals became Jedi, some were lost and some left the Academy to pursue other avenues, feeling the Jedi wasn't right for them." Luke smiled at Mara and went on, "However of the ones who left they all came back. Four members of that first class are still among the active members with two of them still on the Council.
"And it is one of these two that I have decided to choose my successor. This has not been an easy decision for me. Both of these men," Luke looked from Corran to Kyp. Corran was seated on the right side of the hall with Mirax and his family, except for Terrik, who interestingly despite his open support for his grandfather, was sitting beside Meri on the left with Kyp. Behind Corran sat his main supporters Zekk Quee and retired Jedi Master Kenth Hamner. Then he looked over at Kyp, he too was surrounded by his family and surprisingly his many supporters. It still amazed Luke how much Kyp had changed over the years, however, it didn't take much to see what provided Kyp his foundation. Jaina sat beside him with his hand folded within hers and he was surrounded by their four children. The Durrons didn't always get along, Luke knew, but they would standup for each other and they would stand together. "Both of these great Jedi have dedicated their lives to the Order. They both have helped make the Jedi what we are today.
"Master Horn has been most supportive of building Jedi Training facilities on planets such as Corellia and Bastion. Although, small compared to the Academy here or on Coruscant, the other schools have turned out some excellent Jedi. As the main instructor of the Coronet Jedi Academy, he has trained nearly sixty Jedi in the basics and has had four Apprentices.
"Master Horn, along with retired Master Katran, had also been influential in developing the combat training most of you have completed or will complete," Luke smiled at Corran and he returned it.
"Master Durron," Luke met his nephew-in-law's eyes and also smiled at him, "was one of the first students to be granted the rank of Master by me. He was among the first to be named to the High Council during the Yuuzhan War. He has trained six Jedi Apprentices in his career and often chooses the most troubled among the students. He has saved at least two from falling to the Dark Side and counseled several who may have.
"Master Durron has also been a key supporter and with the help of his wife, Master Solo-Durron and Master Keyan Farlander, has developed the Jedi pilot's school and created the two all Jedi squadrons that have over the past twenty years supplemented the GA military in times of crisis.
"Aside from instructing pilots at the Coruscant training facility, Kyp has taught adapts at that facility and helped pair Masters with Apprentices."
"However, these things don't even begin to touch on the influence these two masters have had on the shaping of the Jedi Order that we all serve." Luke took another deep breath and continued. "All in all, either one of these great Masters would lead the Jedi forward and provide the guidance we all seek. However, there is only one who I feel is the correct choice for that task at this time.
"I have been feeling, for the past several months, an increasing Darkness in the galaxy. I can not fully touch it and I know several of the Masters on the Council have also felt its oily presence. This feeling, along with other evidence that has been presented, has given me cause to be concerned." Luke now looked directly at his great-nephew Bail and he saw the young man swallow. Luke knew Bail's vision still haunted him, even though it hadn't repeated and he had taken the risk of warning Doran Tainer and Cassie Horn of the danger he had seen concerning them.
Luke then looked at the crowd as he felt the subtle shift in the Force. Finally, he plunged, "For this reason I feel the best choice for the next Grand Master is Kyp Durron."
Luke looked at Kyp who simply nodded and swallowed. Many in the assembly applauded and many openly glared at Luke. But Luke didn't let that bother him, he felt the sudden comforting glow of the Force and he knew he had made the correct choice.
X
Kyp stared at Luke, somehow he knew Luke would chose him, but for him to officially do so was shocking. Kyp looked at Jaina who hugged his arm and squeezed his hand.
She was smiling broadly and whispered, "So you out rank me again."
He grinned and winked at her, "So it seems." Then he accepted the quiet congratulations from his children. Jaina let go of his arm and hand so he could move up to the stage where he would be "knighted" by Luke and then he needed to make his speech. He looked back at Jaina one last time and she sent him her encouragement and love through their bond. Then he moved up the stairs to stand before Luke.
With his back to the assembly he met Luke's eyes and he smiled that still boyish smile and said quietly, "I know you don't want to do this but think of it as a formality."
Kyp grinned lopsidedly, "Yeah, we have drifted more toward the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony as compared to you just telling us we were now Knights or Masters."
Kyp handed Luke his lightsaber and as the younger man kneeled down on one knee, Luke sniggered, "Ahhh…but think of the children and the younger Knights, seeing this gives them hope."
Kyp met Luke's eyes one more time and impishly said, "I'll remember that when I pass all this on to Ben. I'll remind him to curse you."
Luke's eyes twinkled and he gave Kyp a single hopeful nod and Kyp bowed his head as Luke ignited Kyp's saber. Then in a loud clear voice Grand Master Luke Skywalker announced, as he placed the glowing lavender blade over Kyp's shoulders—one and the other as he spoke, "Master Kyp Durron, I hereby promote you to the highest rank among the Jedi Order. From today forward you will be known as Grand Master and as such are the guardian of the Jedi Knights and the will of the Force. You have the leading seat on the Council of Twelve and sit upon the Advisory Council of the Galactic Alliance. This is not an easy task that you have been given. Master Durron, do you accept this responsibility?"
Kyp looked back up at Luke and swallowed, "Yes, Master."
Luke smiled and raised Kyp's blade, "Then rise Grand Master Durron." Kyp rose and Luke handed him his still active saber. Kyp took it and as he turned to face the Jedi gathered, he raised it in a high salute. Surprisingly, he watched as Corran Horn and his supporters removed their lightsabers and also ignited them saluting the man who now was the Grand Master, and as such the face of the Jedi. Corran was soon followed by the rest of the assembly. The last of the snap-hissing ceased and all that could be heard was the gentle thrumming of over a thousand lightsabers.
Kyp was nearly overwhelmed by the general feeling of acceptance that poured off the crowd. It truly amazed him that his advancement would be so accepted. Then he turned and saluted Luke as he began to move off the stage. Luke bowed before moving down the stairs. Finally, Kyp lowered his blade and switched it off, the others followed. Luke descended the stairs and took the vacant seat between Mara and Leia.
Kyp had thought of what he'd say but he never liked giving speeches and to speak before the large assembly after the emotional asteroid ride of the past few days became nearly as terrifying as a space battle. Then he looked down at his family. Jaina was wiping tears off her cheeks as was Meri and Anakah. His sons were all smiles and he could feel the pride and happiness that radiated off them all.
Kyp thought back to a time when such a simple thing as having a family, children who looked up to him as their hero seemed so foreign a concept. Through his mind flashed a face, a memory of a person he hadn't thought of much in a long time—his brother Zeth.
That was when he swallowed and began to speak:
"Thank you Master Skywalker for this honor, I will uphold the faith that you have placed in me to the best of my abilities," he said as he looked at Luke. Then he turned his attention to the crowd and took a deep breath, falling into the Force.
"Fifty years ago a frightened boy helped a famous hero and a Wookie escape from the mines of Kessel," he met Leia's eyes and she sadly smiled. He smiled back and they shared a brief moment of connection through their grief over Han and Chewbacca. Then he went on, "Han Solo then brought that same confused and angry boy to the Jedi Academy where I met and trained under Luke Skywalker. I will admit at first Luke's training frustrated me, it seemed too slow and useless. It wasn't until tragedy struck after my anger ate at me and an ancient Sith Lord used that hate and anger for his on purposes, that I realized the wisdom of Luke's training methods.
"Some of you still see me as that boy who used the Force in the most perverse of ways. However, I am no longer that boy who destroyed Carida, anymore than Han Solo died a spice smuggler or Luke Skywalker is just a simple farmboy from Tatooine. I am not making excuses for my past, I live with what I did everyday. My eldest son is named for the brother that I inadvertently killed when Carida died. Although, what I did was terrible and if I could go back and undo what I did I would, I also feel that my fall to the Dark helped shape me into the Jedi I've become. I have always championed those who have been marginalized by those in power. During the early days of the Yuuzhan War, I argued that the Jedi should be more involved, which eventually we were. Prior to that war I spent years fighting the pirates and smugglers that preyed on the weak on the Outer Rim. While on the Council I have always taken the position of less government involvement the better.
"As Grand Master I will continue Master Skywalker's dream, his legacy and I will create my own. I feel that the Jedi needs to find our true place in the galaxy. I too have felt the disturbance in the Force as both Luke and Corran have. And it concerns me. I fear that the Jedi have become too embedded in the Galactic Alliance government and as with the Jedi of the past, have been blinded to what goes on in the greater universe. We are too close to, and have become too comfortable with the status quo. We have experienced twenty-five years of unity, peace and prosperity, but I fear it is an illusion and that we are on the apex of something profound. Of which the Jedi need to be separate from to serve the Force and the entire galaxy, not just the GA.
"I believe we need to become the protectors of peace and justice everywhere not just at home." Kyp knew many felt the same as he did, but he also knew that was a lot of the Jedi feared. "Many of you wonder how we can survive without the GA, but I feel we will survive and even flourish. The original Jedi Order served the Force and followed the Force to those who needed them. What was the Jedi's down fall was becoming too dependent on the Old Republic. I do not want that to be our fait if we continue to serve only the GA, I would like to see our Order to go back to our roots.
"We have become intelligence agents, body guards, soldiers and fighter pilots but somewhere along the way we have lost a piece of what being a Jedi really means.
"However, change takes time and I plan to begin slowly. But my hope is to see my vision of the Jedi become a reality eventually and with your support and the will of the Force it shall."
He then swallowed and looked one last time at his family and smiled, "I am proud and happy to be part of the Jedi. I cannot imagine myself as anything else and I thank that hero who become a father to me and the Master who patiently led me through my darkest times every day. And I am eternally grateful to my wife and my children, without them I wouldn't be who I am today."
Then he bowed and finished as he straightened, "May the Force be with you."
Kyp was shocked when the entire assembly stood and broke into applause as he headed off the dais. In the back of his mind he felt a brush of the Force and a shudder moved through him. He realized his living family wasn't the only ones who were proud of him. Thank you, Zeth, he thought as he accepted Jaina's embrace and silently a tear escaped from the Grand Master's eye.
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